Lewes 2 v 0 Hastings United

Saturday 26th December 2017
Isthmian League Division One South
The Dripping Pan, Lewes
Admission: £11.00
Programme: £2.00
Attendance: 802
Match Rating: 3

It was with some considerable reluctance that I attended this game, not wishing to pay a shocking £11.00 to watch Step 4 football. However, the location fitted in well following my morning game at Peacehaven, the alternative of bottom of the table Whitehawk against out of form Eastbourne Borough did not sufficiently appeal, and it is always a joy to visit the wonderfully named Dripping Pan, a ground that just oozes charm and uniqueness from every pore.

The Dripping Pan is located just a couple of minutes walk from Lewes train station, not that trains were an option today with no services running on Boxing Day. Spectators enter through turnstiles behind one of the goal, at the top of a modern terrace with an attractive cover. Immediately to the right of the terrace is the tall clubhouse building which does obscure the view of one corner from the terrace, and the clubhouse is located on the bottom floor. Beyond a tea bar window in the corner, there is a modern and stylish all-seater stand stretching most of the length, whilst behind the far goal, there is a steep bank of uncovered terracing built into a grass bank. Walking to the left from the entrance turnstiles past the covered terrace, four beach huts are located in the corner to be hired out, and which offer a good vantage point particularly during wet, wintry days such as today. Around the corner, the path continues high along the top of a tall grass bank, offering a great elevated view of the action. The 32 page programme, a double issue also covering the coming Saturday's home game, was a really professional job, in full colour, attractively laid out, with interesting articles to read and the important stats mentioned.

Lewes are having a great season so far, top of the division following 15 wins and six draws from their 24 league games, leading the table by two points and have played less games than most teams below them. Hastings United, who lost in the play-offs last season, have had yet another turbulent season, losing their newly appointed managed Adam Hinshelwood in September, then allowed most of their high-earners to leave in favour of younger, more local players. Coming into this game, they were in eleventh place, having won nine and drawn eight of their 24 league games, but they did come into this game on a 10 game unbeaten run.

The day had become really chilly with frequent rain showers, and Hastings did seem to have the confidence of a team unbeaten in ten, as they had most of the possession and looking good with it for the most part, but they never really looked like scoring, lacking a final ball. And on 24 minutes, after a Hastings attack broke down following an apparent handball by a Lewes defender, Charlie Coppola kept on running, into the penalty area where he was brought down by defender Jack Dixon. Jonte Smith hesitated in his run-up, putting the keeper on his backside before rolling the ball into the bottom right corner. Not much else occured for the rest of the half, as Lewes held a narrow lead at the interval.

Unfortunately some rather unsavoury scenes occurred at half time, and some young intoxicated delinquents supposedly supporting Hastings but much more focused on causing trouble set off a very loud explosive device in the covered terrace, provoked a brawl which even Hastings substitutes helped to address, and early in the second half, the "gang" let off firecrackers onto the pitch, before the stewards got them under control with the assistance of the police, sadly. Perhaps events had an effect on the Hastings players on the pitch, as they put in a really subdued performance after the break, and on 57 minutes, Lewes doubled their lead with a superbly taken free-kick by Leon Redwood, which went in off the underside of the bar. That really killed the game, and for the most part Lewes looked content with playing out a comfortable 2-0 win, although on 79 minutes a dipping shot from just outside the area came back off the crossbar, and Hastings seemed to lack the inspiration or imagination to get back in the game, although in the last minute of normal time, they saw a far post, close range header blocked on the line.

This was a case of Lewes doing enough to claim the three points and they look on course to claim promotion back to the Isthmian Premier, whilst Hastings are destined for mid-table obscurity, hopefully to build towards a more exciting season next year.

Peacehaven & Telscombe 1 v 3 Saltdean United

Tuesday 26th December 2017
Southern Combination  League Premier Division
Piddinghoe Avenue, Peacehaven
Admission: £6.00
Programme: £1.00
Attendance: 277
Match Rating: 3

Ideally, I wanted to visit at least one new ground today, however that would have involved a 200 mile plus round trip, leaving home at about 8am, which in the end I did not fancy, and instead I decided to take in a couple of revisits within East Sussex, starting with this very local derby, at a ground I last visited for a game in 2008.

Piddinghoe Avenue is located on the north eastern fringe of Peacehaven, and there is much to really enjoy about the ground, with a beautiful setting, plenty of character, and something to suit most people's needs in terms of facilities. Spectators enter via a turnstile block in one corner of the ground, and along the closest length, there is the main stand which contains most of the facilities - the clubhouse, tea bar window, a press box and a few steps to stand on in a rather intimate location. Covered standing is available in front of the various facilities. From this side, the South Downs make for a beautiful backdrop behind the opposite length, which has quite a long all-seater modern metallic stand straddling the half way line. Behind the goal closest to the entrance there is mainly hard standing, but with a metallic stand covering a few terrace steps by the far corner, whilst behind the other goal, there is also mainly hard standing, with a skeleton of a small stand covering a few rows of seating. The 24 page programme was really good for the level, printed in black and white and on glossy paper, but with plenty of interesting articles to read and all of the necessary stats provided.

Fortunes have contrasted wildly for both teams in recent years. Peacehaven were playing Step 3 football in the Isthmian League Premier Division as recently as the 2014-15 season, before the money dried up and have now steadied the ship back in the Southern Combination League, becoming fan owned at the start of this season. They came into this game in sixth place, following 11 wins and four draws from their 19 league games, and were three points adrift of leaders Haywards Heath. Saltdean were playing intermediate football during the 2011-12 season, but after finishing six points adrift at the bottom of Division One of the Southern Combination League the season before last, they won the division last season, and are more than holding their own in the top flight. They came into this game in ninth place, having won nine and drawn five of their 19 league games.

This game started in bright and sunny conditions, and the first half was a typical derby, a real midfield battle but with goalscoring chances at a premium. Peacehaven probably had slightly the better of proceeding, but it was no real surprise that the scoreline was goalless at the break.

The bright sunshine game way to increasing wind and downpours after the break, and the game really sparked into life on 51 minutes, when the home side took the lead. A corner was played short before being whipped in, and Conor Sidwell got his head to the ball to flick it into the far corner of the net via a slight deflection. Four minutes later though, and the visitors were awarded a penalty for pulling as the ball was flighted into the box. It looked a very soft award, but Rob O'Toole fired the ball into the bottom right of the goal, sending the keeper the wrong way. Saltdean were having the better of things now, and it wasn't too much of a surprise when they took the lead on 70 minutes with a lovely goal. A Peacehaven attack broke down, and a lovely ball high from just before the half way line over the defence allowed Ryan Warwick to run onto the ball by the outer corner of the penalty area, and he lobbed the ball perfectly over the keeper who had come out and into the empty net - a great, composed finish. The visitors sealed the points on 75 minutes, when Wes Mills met a corner with a firm header at the far post to head the ball across the keeper and into the net. Saltdean saw out the remainder of the game quite comfortable, as Peacehaven never threatened to pull a goal back and Saltdean claimed the win that, in the end, they deserved.

Video footage of all four goals can be viewed on the following web page :- https://twitter.com/YOURINSTREPLAY/status/945761714238361600

New Milton Town 1 v 1 Ringwood Town

Saturday 23rd December 2017
Wessex League Division One
Fawcetts Field, New Milton
Admission: £6.00
Programme: Free
Attendance: 65
Match Rating: 3

After having to abort a trip to Fawcetts Field back in early August thanks to disruption on the trains, I was attracted to this fixture by some special Festive promotions being offered by the club, which promised to generate a nice seasonal atmosphere to proceedings. For the normal admission fee of £6.00, the club were offering a free programme, a free hot drink and a mince pie, and a free raffle ticket. More than anything, this promised to create a nice seasonal feel to proceedings as well as, hopefully, a larger than usual attendance.

Fawcetts Field is about a twenty minute walk from New Milton train station, with the entrance just beyond a brick clubhouse, which is bright and spacious inside, and an oriental snack and meal menu is available to order at the bar. Immediately inside the ground entrance there is a standing area to mingle, with a tea bar adjacent to the entrance, and to the other side, team line-ups are displayed on the wall of the all-seater main stand which straddles the half way line. Beyond the standing area is the back wall of the clubhouse with some picnic tables pitchside, whilst to the other side of the stand there are a couple of small brick buildings housing toilets and hospitality rooms. Around the rest of the ground there is just hard standing, with trees lining the ground. It is a neat and tidy facility, perhaps lacking a little in character, although perhaps it is easier to think that on a dank winter's day, and that it would be a really pleasant setting at the start or end of the season. In any case, a friendly welcome and an excellent clubhouse make a trip to Fawcetts Field highly recommended. The 24 page programme was good for a step 6 club, with an attractive cover, some interesting reading material and all of the relevant stats and facts.

This local derby was between two clubs occupying the middle of the table, with New Milton in eighth place, having won nine and drawn five of their 21 league games, but were just four points adrift of the top three and a promotion berth, although they have played more games than all teams above them. Ringwood were in tenth place, having won eight and drawn one of their 19 league games.

On a dull, overcast afternoon with misty rain arriving during the second half, the first half was a midfield battle for the most part, not helped by a slippery surface that saw players frequently struggle to keep their footing. New Milton did have slightly the better of things, but although both teams created some half chances to open the scoring, it wasn't too surprising that the scoreline remained blank at the break.

After enjoying the complimentary (and very welcome on this increasingly chilly afternoon) cup of tea and mince pie at half time, the visitors came close to taking the lead on 47 minutes, when a freekick was played into the box and met with a header in the six yard box, forcing a reflex save from the keeper. They did take the lead on 66 minutes. The ball was played forward and Lee Vint shrugged off a defender to run clear towards goal, and he showed good composure to roll the ball below the keeper. But on 78 minutes, New Milton were awarded a penalty, following a silly challenge by a defender as he tracked a New Milton forward bursting into the box. The penalty was saved , but the rebound was tucked home by Steve Flynn. Both teams had chances to win it in the closing minutes, most notably the home side who saw a shot from 8 yards out saved excellently by the keeper, but a point apiece was a fair reflection on an even game.